Winning format sees England handed early Australian test

Organisers of the 2013 event, which was officially launched by the Rugby Football League at Manchester's new MediaCityUK last night, have closely followed the model used for the 2008 World Cup in Australia.

Two years ago the big guns, England, Australia and New Zealand, were all placed in the same group, alongside minnows Papua New Guinea, and all three progressed through to the semi-finals, with the rest of the teams left to battle through from two pools to claim the one remaining knock-out spot.

The format attracted initial criticism but achieved its objective of avoiding one-sided matches and was widely regarded as a success, generating a profit of around 2m.

This time the competition has been enlarged from 10 teams to 14 and there will be a quarter-final round.

Wales, who failed to qualify in 2008, and Cook Islands, who were runners-up to PNG in the 2009 Pacific Cup, were confirmed as two of the additional teams, with the other two to come from qualifying tournaments to be held in 2011 in Serbia and America.

Italy, Lebanon, Russia, Serbia, Jamaica, South Africa and the USA are the teams vying for the two remaining places.

Ireland, who enjoyed a successful World Cup two years ago, and 2008 semi-finalists Fiji were drawn alongside England and Australia in group A, with holders New Zealand paired with PNG, France and Samoa.

Three teams from each of the two main groups will progress to the last eight, with only the winners of the other two groups going through.

Scotland and Wales will be firm favourites to secure quarter-final spots from Groups C and D.

RFL chairman Richard Lewis told the launch, held three years to the day to the 2013 final, that the aim was to make the 14th staging of the World Cup, which will be contested in venues throughout England and Wales in the autumn of 2013, the best yet.

"The last tournament staged in Australia in 2008 was an enormous success," he said.

"Our aim is to build on that success and to deliver a profitable tournament that further enhances the international game across the globe and raises the profile of the sport throughout the UK."

The RFL have invited tenders for venues but, with Wales jointly hosting the event, the Millennium Stadium is guaranteed to stage at least one high-profile match.

First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones said: "It is a privilege for Wales to be given this opportunity.

"We saw tremendous success during the 1995 World Cup when Wales was host to numerous fixtures and the Welsh public came out in force to support their home team and to witness some of the world's greatest players.

"With Rugby League enjoying a new-found growth in Wales in recent years and, with the sport having been played in schools throughout the country for the past eight years, we are confident that hosting games in venues such as the Millennium Stadium will be a great way of helping boost the sport in Wales."

Prime Minister David Cameron, who was busy promoting England's bid to host the 2018 football World Cup, pledged the support of the Coalition government in a promotional video.

"This government is right behind the RFL," said Cameron. "As one of the sports that this country holds closest to its heart, we know what a privilege and honour it is to host this tournament.

"I'm fully confident that the RFL will do the United Kingdom proud and I look forward to working closely with them to make sure it is a great success.

"The next decade promises to be one of the most exciting in our country's history.

"There will be the Olympics, the Cricket World Cup, hopefully the Football World Cup (announced tomorrow) and the Rugby League World Cup.

"Coming so soon after the Olympics, the RFL have the opportunity to ride on the crest of that wave and host a truly memorable tournament."

Championship One club South Wales Scorpions have appointed Welsh international Aled James as their player-coach.

The 28-year-old, a fluent Welsh speaker, succeeds Australian Anthony Seibold, who returned home at the end of last season.

Widnes Vikings have signed 20-year-old St Helens prop forward Gareth Frodsham on a one-year loan.

Frodsham, a former England captain at Under-15 and Under-16 level, made his Super League debut as an 18-year-old against Warrington in 2008 but he did not make a senior appearance this year, largely due to injury.

Former Australia and State of Origin forward Dane Carlaw has rejoined Brisbane Broncos following his release by Catalans Dragons.

GROUP STRUCTURE FOR 2013 WORLD CUP

England will once more be in the same group as Australia for the opening stages of the World Cup.